Strengthen Family Relationships with Walking
“As a mama it’s important to me that my kids gain the skills needed to be consistent and learn that commitment to the right thing does yield positive benefits.”
Building Bonds is on the Summer Bucket List
High temperatures and cold treats are the things that make summer a unique season filled with both excitement and obstacles. Between trying to enjoy the sun while not getting burnt or trying to participate in summer activities and events while also leaving time for true relationship connections, it can seem like summer zooms by.
As much as I enjoy all that summer offers as a family, we’ve decided to make intentional family time a priority this summer.
Although our family calendar is filled with graduation parties, summer sports, trips, family and church events, theater and various other opportunities to enjoy the season and make new memories, the one memory we are excited to make is the memory of consistent bonding.
It was a standard family meeting where we shared wins and improvements, questions and suggestions and take the time to truly check-in on our relationships, then we discovered we were missing each other because of our busy schedules and responsibilities. After some brainstorming and discussion, we decided that every day we would go on a family walk. Whether it is 15 minutes or 2 miles. We just want to get outside together.
A family walk.
Sounds simple enough.
The act in itself, could be deemed simple. Yet it's the commitment to being consistent where in lies the challenge.
As a young person I struggled with consistency. Everywhere I looked growing up it was like I was free to change my mind and go in a different direction without truly giving anything the chance to mature or be seen to completion. Now as a mama it’s important to me that my kids gain the skills needed to be consistent and learn that commitment to the right thing does yield positive benefits. Building the skill of consistency will in fact help all of us improve our ability to commit. Plus the benefits of walking are vast and can improve the quality of life for those who do it consistently.
Known benefits of walking (with family):
Heart health
Improves mood
Burns calories
Boost immune function
Reduces stress
Improves sleep
Increases bonding
Memory making
Remember you are doing this walk with your family and it will also allow for more chances to talk, listen and observe. Even if there is not a stream of questions or jokes being said, just being around each other and taking in fresh air while observing the surroundings can build bonds and create opportunities for moments that would normally be missed in the hustle and bustle of life.
As a family we have been testing out different walking times in our schedule since it is summer, and our schedules have changed. We have decided to make use of our family calendar to track our family walks and will be documenting this journey online to see if the benefits of walking as a family really do help us build consistency and closeness. We’ll also gladly take any of the health benefits too.
Join us this summer on family walks using hashtag #familywalks. Pick a day or select weekdays, whatever works for your family. Let’s see how committing to a family walk can help to keep us close this summer and improve our health and relationships.
Quick To Do:
Set a time/date
Communicate with family
Track to build consistency
Celebrate efforts
Enjoy the benefits
Mama whether it is 15 minutes or 60 minutes of walking you got this! You can also use laughter to build bonds and create more fun and peace at home, check out this post. Tag @achieveitmama and Share on Instagram your family walk pictures so we can celebrate with you!
Live Inspired,
Achieve it Mama
